Reliability AnalysisBased on known issue patterns, repair cost data, and ownership trends · How we score

2018 Nissan Altima Reliability ReportCommon Problems, Repair Costs & Expert Verdict

78/ 100
MODERATE RISK

Grade: C+

A budget-friendly sedan held back by the pervasive and costly risk of its CVT transmission.

Full system breakdown + what I would do

Should You Buy the 2018 Nissan Altima?

The 2018 Nissan Altima offers decent fuel economy and a comfortable ride, making it an appealing option for commuters. However, its Achilles' heel remains the continuously variable transmission (CVT), which poses a significant long-term reliability risk and warrants extreme caution during evaluation. Buyers must prioritize meticulous service history and a thorough pre-purchase inspection to mitigate potential headaches.

Biggest Strengths

  • Good fuel economy for its class
  • Comfortable and quiet ride
  • Affordable purchase price

Top Risk Areas

The systems that break first on the 2018 Nissan Altima. Mileage windows, repair costs, and fix-before-you-buy notes are in the full report.

1
CVT Transmissioncritical
2
Braking Systemmoderate
3
Electrical Systemminor
Typical mileage, cost ranges, and the exact what-to-check list are in the full report.

NHTSA Recalls

2 recalls on record from NHTSA. Check your VIN atnhtsa.gov to see if the repair was performed.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2018 Nissan Altima vehicles. If the primary hood latch is inadvertently released, there is an increased likelihood that the secondary hood latch may corrode over time.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

What breaks on the 2018 Nissan Altima?

Full reliability breakdown — engine, transmission, rust, electrical. With repair costs and mileage danger zones.

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Nissan Altima by Year

Compare reliability scores across nearby years of the Nissan Altima. Click any year for its full report.

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Relevant Products for Your 2018 Nissan Altima

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Frequently Asked Questions

Final Step

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